Venice - la Serenissima

Stock Photography By Lars-Olof Nilsson

Too many tourists and a rising sea level threaten this faded beauty. But stay away from the crowded places and you will find memorable sights that will make you come back again and again. As Marion Kaminski has pointed out, Venice is the perfect place to get lost in. Stroll along narrow canals, cross beautiful arched bridges, sit in a picturesque piazza, take a gondola trip or - less expensive - the vaporetto waterbus to ever more exciting spots. You'll never get enough! And during the Carnival you will meet the most fantastic characters.

13. Masked woman at the carnival of Venice, Italy. Woman with cardboard mask at the carnival in Venice, Italy

14. Two men and a girl at the carnival of Venice, Italy. A masked girl with two oriental-looking men at the carnival in Venice, Italy

15. Young girl at the carnival of Venice, Italy. Young girl masked as a cat at the carnival in Venice, Italy

16. Masked couple at the carnival of Venice, Italy. Masked couple at the carnival in Venice, Italy, the man wearing a traditional Bauta mask, the woman a Columbine mask; both have tri-corn hats.

17. Four carnival attendees in Venice, Italy. Two couples dressed for the carnival of Venice, Italy

18. Masked figures at the carnival of Venice, Italy. Colourful masked figures at the carnival in Venice, Italy

19. Venetian decoration, the sun and the moon, in a shop window in Venice, Italy. In Venetian tradition, the sun is a symbol of life and the moon represents the seas and the tides. The figures are intended for wall decoration or to be worn as a mask.

20. Carnival masks in a shop window in Venice, Italy. Various Venetian carnival masks in a shop window in Venice, Italy

21. Animal masks for the carnival of Venice, Italy. Shop window displaying various animal masks to be worn at the carnival in Venice, Italy

22. Mask in a shop window in Venice, Italy. Venetian carnival mask displayed in a shop window in Venice, Italy

23. Motorbike in wood. Full-size wooden model of a motorbike in a shop window in Venice, Italy

24. Pizza dough in the shape of masks at the carnival of Venice, Italy. Pizzeria shop window displaying pizza bottoms as masks during the carnival in Venice, Italy

25. Fire station in Venice, Italy. Home of the fire brigade in Venice, Italy

26. Run-down part of Venice, Italy. Venetian buildings in need of repair

27. Sunset behind Santa Maria della Salute in Venice, Italy. The Basilica of St Mary of Health was built by the Republic of Venice to thank for the city's deliverance from the plague in the 17th century